In recognition of its work “advancing the sustainability and climate resilience of the US government”, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has been awarded a Presidential Federal Sustainability Award for ‘electrifying the largest federal fleet’.
The Presidential Federal Sustainability Awards recognize federal agencies and employees who have made transformational efforts to advance sustainability and climate resilience within their organization. These actions are supporting the growth of the USA’s clean manufacturing and clean energy industries and jobs, saving taxpayer dollars through reduced energy costs, and creating healthier communities.
USPS Postmaster General and CEO Louis DeJoy accepted the award, commenting, “We are honored to receive this award as our team has built a great relationship with members of the Council on Environmental Quality, and the Office of Clean Energy and Innovation and Implementation, to build one of the world’s largest electric delivery vehicle fleets. Our work together demonstrates electrification and sustainability efforts can coexist – not conflict – with cost savings, efficiency gains and operational transformation priorities.”
Leading by example
In 2021, President Joe Biden issued an executive order directing the federal government to lead by example and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, including a 65% reduction in emissions by 2030, a goal laid out in the 2021 Federal Sustainability Plan. Under this plan, federal agencies are increasing the efficiency of 300,000 federal buildings, transitioning the federal fleet of 600,000 vehicles to zero-emission, and moving to power all federal operations with 100% carbon-free electricity.
Brenda Mallory, chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, explained, “Our federal government is the nation’s largest energy consumer, building and vehicle owner, and purchaser of goods and services, and the Biden-Harris administration remains committed to being good stewards of taxpayer dollars while delivering on the most ambitious climate and clean energy agenda in history.
“The Presidential Federal Sustainability Award winners represent the very best of our federal workforce and agencies who have tackled complex challenges and delivered results for a cleaner, more efficient federal government.”
Electric fleet
USPS was honored for building one of the world’s largest electric delivery vehicle fleets. In December 2022, the postal service announced its commitment to put 66,000 electric delivery trucks on the roads over the next five years and the expectation that its Next Generation Delivery Vehicle fleet purchases will be all electric, starting in 2026.
To power these vehicles, as part of its delivery network transformation, USPS is installing electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the nation, with 14,000 charging ports to be installed over the next few years. Charging port installations will continue at least through 2028 at hundreds of facilities to support these vehicle purchases.